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I have a metal roof and would be getting a metal tank, not plastic, which should avoid some of the problems that were mentioned. The fire safety issue might be worth considering, though, especially since I essentially live in the forest.

The quote consists of approximately $5000 for basic tank installation (I guess it would be llike a cistern) and another $5000 to connect it to the existing plumbing, filter it, add a pump andhave potable water. If I would do just the basic tank for irrigation, it would defeat the purpose as I'd...

I hope to live in this house forever, and I'm only in my early 30s. I'm in East Texas, so there is a lot of rain, but can have droughts as well. I'm still very tempted to go ahead and go for the rainwater after saving up some more money. Is love to hear any other experiences or input!

I recently bought a house. I have county water and get charged $60 a month regardless of how little water I use (the $60 is for "the first 3,000 gallons"). I have no idea how a single person could possibly use anywhere close to that amount, and I have been used to about $20 water bills. I have...

Another very simple one for cat owners: instead of a cat litter box use a cardboard box, and instead of cat litter use earth.

- rent the cheapest place I could find in town - keep the hot water in the house turned off most of the year - never eat out - exercise and stay healthy (keep medical bills low) - have no cable/no TV - have no a/c; only a fan instead - have only a small space heater that I use in my bedroom when...

L&L, I'm the only contributor. But since I also added regular kitchen compost and dead animals, it filled up faster. - Someone who I had talked to about this when I originally started it recently asked me if I'm still doing my "project", and I had to think about what he means, because it has...

I do use a toilet plunger. I originally got the idea from a post in this forum, possibly in this thread.

I haven't added any worms, but I know they have come on their own, because they are crawling everywhere around the outside of the bin when it rains! I can certainly post pictures once the first bin is done. Hopefully if I keep it more moist from now on the rest should break down nicely.

Here is the requested update: I've been doing this for almost a year now. My first compost bin/trash can was filled up in May (not just humanure, but also kitchen waste and a few dead rabbits and chickens). The second trash can will soon be full, so each lasts me about 6 months. I want to let...

Don't know if you still have the problem. But a good way to get rid of fluid that built up in the ear is to take 1200mg Mucinex together with 2 big glasses of water.

I've been using baking soda and vinegar for over a year now. I suppose the baking soda might be too harsh to use on a daily basis, but I have to use my hair only once or twice a week now. I used to have somewhat oily hair, but frizzy at the same time, and it has gotten SO much healthier and more...

I spent a few more hours researching mushroom-related info online. I found out about options of making one's own spawn to eliminate the need to buy new kits. Most methods seem kind of complicated, but I also found a method that sounds very easy: basically just soak cardboard until the layers...

I know this is an older thread, but I've been very interested in growing some button or portabella mushrooms, and it seems to fit here. Has anyone bought a commercial kit and found a way to extend their lifetime or reuse them with new spores? Maybe if you add a bit of your own compost to it? I...

I suppose much of it depends on what you consider "self-sufficient" (nobody will probably be truly 100% self-sufficient), and the needs of the family. I'm on my own and have been amazed lately how much I can do even in my urban backyard on a very small space. Even just a few chickens, rabbits, a...

Thanks for sharing, frugal one. I haven't even thought about composting dead animals as well. In your experience, does it not take longer than the humanure, though?

I got a professional hair cut only twice in my life, and both times I didn't even like it very much. So no need to waste money on it. I always cut my own hair. In fact, last time I cut it, a few weeks ago, I used the same method described in the OPs video link, and it was faster and easier than...

Ah, yes, for a restaurant to expect guests to be okay with that does seem a bit different. Pretty interesting actually, how much those things are culturally influenced. I've used the Italian toilets you're describing before. Just recently I heard in Japan and Korea there are "courtesy buttons"...

I actually used to temporarily live some people here in the US who did just that for the same reason. They said their plumbing wasn't very good since the house was old.

Interesting point. I hadn't thought of that and would need to research it more to decide if that would be an issue. I'll be interested what others have to say about this. Luckily, I'm not taking any regular medication and I expect to be the sole contributer.